FAIRFIELD, Conn. — Two home runs in the eighth inning padded the four-run lead as the Sacred Heart University baseball team edged past Northeast Conference opponent Long Island in the first matchup of a three-game series on Friday. Dante D'amore's two-run blast put the Pioneers up by six before Justin Levito's three-run homer sealed the 12-3 victory.

Records:
Sacred Heart: 6-34, 4-12 NEC
Long Island: 26-13, 11-5 NEC

Up Next:
Sacred Heart continues in game two of a three-day series against LIU tomorrow at 1 p.m. at Veteran's Park.

Statistical Leaders:
Dante D'amore (SHU): 2-4, 2R, 1HR, 2RBI
Justin Levito (SHU): 1-4, 2R, 1HR, 3RBI
George Sutherland (SHU): 2-4, 2R, 2RBI

Pitchers:
Jake Babushak (SHU): (W, 1-6) 1.0IP, 2H, 1BB, 1K
Joshua Loeschorn (LIU): (L, 8-2) 7.0IP, 6H, 5R, 2BB, 5K

Of Note:
Through four innings, the score board remained blank until Robert Farruggio's sacrifice fly to left field allowed Sam Mongelli to cross the plate.

The Pioneers maintained the 1-0 lead until the Sharks took the lead with a two-run home run in the sixth inning.

Robert Farruggio and George Sutherland came home with a single off the bat of Steven Schoen in the seventh to grab a one-run lead. D'amore and Levito recorded two more runs for the home team to grow a three-run cushion.

The Sharks cut the deficit to two in the eighth inning off a single to left field.

With a perfectly placed bunt, Sutherland sent Ryan Donnelly and Mongelli home to ignite a seven-run eighth inning. For the second time this season, D'amore cranked one out of the park for a two-run homer as Sutherland was welcomed home. Fired up after his first career start and win as a pitcher, Levito capped off an impressive inning as he touched all the bags in a three-run home run.

The Red & White bullpen held Long Island to three runs. David Aufiero opened for 5.1 innings with a pair of strikeouts, five hits and two runs. Coming in relief in the sixth inning with two on, Jake Babuschak secured his first win of the season after he put in 3.2 innings of work. He only allowed a single run on a trio of hits and struck out two batters.

D'amore hit two of four with two runs, a home run and a pair of RBIs, while Sutherland crossed home twice and brought in two after going two for four.

With his second homer under his belt, Levito brought in three runs and went one of four.